Prep Football: Tigers Hang Tight in First Half of Loss to CR

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The Tigers made just enough big plays in the first half to overcome their own turnovers.

Against Columbia River, however — the No. 8-ranked 3A football squad in the state — that gridiron karma couldn't last after the midgame break.

Centralia lost three fumbles and tossed two interceptions, shooting itself in the foot a few too many times against a more imposing opponent in a 36-20 nonleague loss Friday night at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers fumbled away the ball with just over 7 minutes to play and a 10-point deficit, only to watch Columbia River rumble 51 yards and cap the 2-minute drive with a 3-yard touchdown run from Nic Briggs that finally put the game out of reach.

“On the downslope of things, you have to take a look at the fundamental and physical errors — what we can’t do if we want to be able to compete against a top-notch team like that,” Centralia coach Matt Whitmire said.

That said, there was plenty to appreciate in the loss for Centralia.

“We just took on the No. 8-ranked team in the 3As,” Whitmire said. “And in the first half, there’s no question we were right there with them.”

That first half, which ended in a 20-20 tie, was entertaining from start to finish.

The Chieftains forced a fumble on the Tigers' first play after the kickoff, and used their own first play to score when quarterback Gabe Evenson hit Holden Fielding on a 21-yard fade route in the end zone.

Columbia River's Jacob Ringold then picked off a pass three plays into Centralia's ensuing possession, but the Chieftains fumbled the ball right back two plays later to set up Centralia's first drive — which rolled 74 yards and ended with a 17-yard Joey Aliff touchdown pass to Nolan Wasson.

The Chieftains responded, with Nathan Hawthorne snaring an Everson pass and zipping into the end zone for a 13-6 lead.

The teams swapped quick turnovers again, this time with the Tigers fumbling and then Gavin Kerner picking off a pass three plays later and running it back 30 yards to the Chieftains' 30-yard line as the first quarter ended. The first play of the second quarter was another Aliff-to-Wasson touchdown pass, this time of the 30-yard variety to pull things to 13-12.



Kerner picked off another pass to end CR's next drive, but the offense stalled and Centralia booted away its first punt of the year. Hawthorne found the end zone again on an 18-yard pass, but Centralia answered with a long drive and a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Riley Christensen. Aliff hit Wasson for the conversion to tie it up at 20-20 with less than a minute until the intermission, ending a first half that featured as many turnovers (six) as touchdowns.

Columbia River abandoned the pass on the first drive of the second half, running the ball six straight times on a 2-minute drive that ended with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Nic Briggs.

“We couldn’t block the perimeter, and, bottom line, we knew what they were going to do, and our guys weren’t good enough to whip their guys,” Whitmire said. “That’s what it came down to tonight.”

The Tigers punted away their next possession, took it back when Angel Verduzco picked off the Chieftains' first pass, punted again, forced a punt, and lost possession when Rory Menagat picked off a pass and the Chieftains parlayed it into a 31-yard field goal from Garrett McKee.

Centralia, meanwhile, lost the services of Javon Brager midway through the second quarter, and had trouble finding as much space on the ground with the big fullback on the sidelines.

“It’s a factor,” Whitmire said. “Javon’s an emotional leader, and the type of fullback you want in this offense. But make no mistake about it, Joe Finch stepped in and performed well.”

Finch had been splitting time at quarterback with sophomore Joey Aliff during the Tigers’ first two games. Aliff got the start this week, and shined with the two touchdown passes to Wasson early on.

“Any time you go with a sophomore quarterback it’s going to be an adventure,” Whitmire said. “Joey’s only going to get better as we go with him. There’s some things, as far as taking care of the football, that we need to get better at, and we will.”

Angel Verduzco picked off two passes for Centralia, with Gavin Kerner adding a third.

Centralia (2-1) will host Kelso — and former Tiger head coach Steve Amrine — on Friday in another nonleague game.

Notes: Brager led Centralia with 61 rushing yards on nine carries, all in the first half. … Vincent Daniels led Columbia River with 72 rushing yards on seven carries. Everson finished with 149 passing yards, going 15 of 26 with three touchdowns and three interceptions. … Centralia fumbled six times, losing three. … The Tigers punted five times, after not punting in their first two games. … Columbia River had shut out R.A. Long and Mark Morris, 35-0 and 32-0, in the first two weeks of the season. … Centralia will host Kelso, coached by former Centralia head coach Steve Amrine, on Friday.